Crawl puts gators ahead of sharks on the waterborne terror chart

By Steve Newton When it comes to waterborne terrors with teeth, there have always been three on my scariest list. The first, thanks to the traumatizing opening scene of Jaws, is the great white shark. Coming in a close second is the piranha, 'cause I heard as a kid that if you fell in the Amazon … Continue reading Crawl puts gators ahead of sharks on the waterborne terror chart

Midnight Oil proves itself a kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll band that counts on the Diesel and Dust tour

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 29, 1988 By Steve Newton At Midnight Oil's press conference the day of their April 22 show the band's drummer (and one of the major songwriters) Rob Hirst was asked about the group's preoccupation with political themes. Hirst acknowledged the political side of the band, but also pointed out that politically inclined … Continue reading Midnight Oil proves itself a kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll band that counts on the Diesel and Dust tour

Enthralling Horns has twisted humour tempered by a whole lotta heart

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 21, 2014 By Steve Newton Who knew that a scary movie based on the bizarre idea of a mortal man growing devil horns could prove so damn captivating? Horns is right up there with The Cabin in the Woods as among the most engrossing horror flicks ever made in and around Vancouver. The film opens … Continue reading Enthralling Horns has twisted humour tempered by a whole lotta heart

Horror review: Piranha 3D

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 21, 2010 Sometimes when I’ve had nothing better to do I’ve pondered the worst way to die. Getting hacked to death is right up there—glad I don’t live in Somalia—but being eaten alive by wild animals usually wins out. It helps when you remember hearing, as a kid in school, … Continue reading Horror review: Piranha 3D

Horror review: Mirrors

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 18, 2008 After he burst onto the horror scene in 2003 with the wrenchingly suspenseful serial-killer flick High Tension, then followed that up with his exhilarating 2006 remake of Wes Craven’s rampaging-mutants opus, The Hills Have Eyes, Alexandre Aja was seen by some as the gifted new saviour of big-screen fear. … Continue reading Horror review: Mirrors

Wildly entertaining P2 is an old-school nail-biter

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 7, 2007 By Steve Newton As if underground parking wasn't scary enough already. Ever try finding an empty spot in the Metrotown parkade on the weekend? The stress involved with that alone can kill ya. I just say, 'Screw it,' park out on the street somewhere, and deal with the pouring rain. … Continue reading Wildly entertaining P2 is an old-school nail-biter

The Descent is in the running with The Hills Have Eyes as top horror flick of the year

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 10, 2006 By Steve Newton A few weeks ago, we went camping at a lake near Powell River, and by camping I mean sleeping in a camper. I chose to crash at the very back of the rig, against the wall in the little bunk above the truck cab. Maybe it … Continue reading The Descent is in the running with The Hills Have Eyes as top horror flick of the year

High Tension director Alexandre Aja tackles Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 9, 2006 By Steve Newton The French are famous for a lot of things, but making horror movies isn't one of them. Just try to name one French fright flick that has caught your attention lately-besides Alexandre Aja's terrifying 2003 effort, High Tension. As Aja explains on the line from L.A., … Continue reading High Tension director Alexandre Aja tackles Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes